Kombucha vs. Lupus

"I THINK KOMBUCHA IS A REAL MIRACLE"

By Ariana Estelle-Symons, Ph.D., Copyright 1997
From the Kombucha Konnection Newsletter, April 1997

At least once a week I hear from someone that suffers from Lupus, asking if I have any 'good news' for them
regarding the effects of Kombucha on people with this condition. So, for those of you that have Lupus or know someone
who does - here's some good news!

The following comes from the publication, 'Heliogram, Official Publication of the Lupus Network', March, 1997
Issue. The author has given us permission to publish her letter in the Kombucha Konnection.

KOMBUCHA - THE MIRACLE TEA

"I have been suffering with debilitating lupus for 3 years. Going to doctors and searching for a cure.
I had extreme weakness and pain in my upper arms and upper legs. I also had muscular pain throughout my whole body.
All my joints were involved, especially my shoulders and hips. The disease also affected my thyroid and I was diagnosed
with Graves disease and Exothalamus disease (a disease involving the muscles around the eyes - they bulge - and
it causes double vision and even loss of vision). I had surgery to help with the eye disease and the dry eye.

I also have neurological symptoms such as numbness in the hands and arms and my feet and legs. I fall very easily
and very often. I had terrible blinding migraine headaches. My short and long term memory were also affected. Some
days I could not remember from one moment to the next. I had a difficult time carrying on a conversation and could
not express myself the way I was used to doing. This made dealing with medical staff very frustrating. They were
very condescending and ignorant. Before I became ill, I worked with people with mental retardation and I saw how
people treated them like second class citizens. But being in their shoes was the worst experience I have had in
my entire life.

My lungs were also affected. I was diagnosed with asthma and it seemed to get worse instead of better, even
with treatments. The slightest thing would bring on an attack (smoke, cool air, perfumes).

I had multiple muscle spasms in my back and shooting nerve pain down my arms and down my legs. I was so weak
and fatigued, I could hardly walk. Many days I did not even have the strength to get out of bed. I had to move
into a first floor apartment. I needed help with every aspect of my life. Thank God for the support of my friends
and family. Life was hard but we were adjusting to it.

Then one day in March of '95 my mother told my sister to tape the Maury Pauvich show . After my sister reviewed
the tape, she called and was very excited about Kombucha Tea. They said it was very helpful with immune disorders
such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and asthma, to name a few. At this particular time I had been dealing with
the symptoms from lupus I described before for 3 years with no relief from any of the medications or vitamin therapy
or physical therapy that I had tried. So I was really open to the whole idea. The only trouble was finding the
mushroom. At this time it was only available on the West coast. Coincidentally, I had a very close friend going
to California for a vacation, So we recruited her help. She, being one of the best persons on this planet, brought
me the tea with no problem. It has changed my life. For the better, of course!

A few days after drinking Kombucha, I began to get more energy. The congestion and pain in my chest subsided
and my asthma attacks have lessened. I was basically bedridden when I first began the tea. In fact my sister had
to prepare the tea for me for the first few months. But I began to get stronger, both mentally and physically,
and with the help of a professional and lot of hard work, my memory has been restored.

I still have bouts with the lupus and I still struggle, but the Kombucha Tea definitely helps. I will NOT
do without it. I am much better today than I have been and years, and I attribute that to the Kombucha Tea.

I also use the tea as a toner and moisturizer. You're probably well aware of the havoc lupus plays on your skin.
So I keep a small bottle in my medicine chest and apply it to my face and my arms where I have eczema. It makes
your skin nice and soft and definitely lessens those nasty wrinkles. I don't know why it works, but it does. I
have even put it directly on the lupus rash and it has calmed it down. If you decide to try this, just remember
to shake the bottle up periodically or you will grow a little mushroom on the top of the bottle.

Kombucha Tea is very versatile. I have read that you can give a few drops to your dog or cat and it will help
them with their health and their coats. So, after many months of self-experimentation, I gave my Crystal (my kitty-cat
friend) a taste. She loves it. I give it to her once a day in her water and she will drink up the Kombucha water
more readily than the plain water. She hasn't been sick since we started taking the Kombucha and her fur is as
soft as silk, and she has no more fur balls.

There has been a lot of controversial media coverage about Kombucha. But in my opinion, it is perfectly safe
if produced in a clean and sanitary manner. I have never gotten sick from it and it seems to agree with all my
medications. I am presently on Plaquenil, prednisone, Calan, Tapazole, Levoxinne, Zoloft, Ambien, Claritan, Vanceril,
Ultram, potassium, Alupent, and Prevacid. I am also on several vitamins: a multivitamin, Vitamin E, cod liver oil,
calcium, B6, B5, B12, B-complex, lecithin, manganese, zinc, and Vitamin C. The Kombucha is complimentary to all
my medicines and it doesn't lessen their effectiveness - it probably enhances them.

I usually drink my Kombucha in the morning because it does give me energy. I am afraid if I drink it at night,
I will have a hard time falling asleep. Although there have been nights I drank a glass before bedtime and I have
slept like a baby. That within itself is a miracle since I am also plagued with sleeplessness due to the lupus.

Today Kombucha is much easier to get hold of than when I first heard about it. Many people have Kombucha and
would be happy to give you a mushroom. So if you are interested, ask your friends and neighbors if they know anyone
who drinks Kombucha and brews it themselves. I think you'll be surprised how many people are into this miracle
mushroom. If you still cannot find a mushroom, you can purchase one from Harmonic Harvest, P.O. Box 82, Harwood,
TX 78632.

I think Kombucha is a real miracle. It may not be a cure for lupus, but it helps with many of the symptoms.
It has been the best medicine I have taken and it is very tasty too. Good luck with your Kombucha and I hope and
pray it creates a miracle for you like it has for me. Have a drink to your health."